The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 940
BID: $OPDX.940
December 28, 2009
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, K1XN & GoList, NJ1Q, NG3K & ADXO, N4AA & QRZ DX, KH6BZF, N7OU, K8YSE, AT International, DL7MAE & The DX News Letter, DX World of Ham Radio Web Site, FO8RZ, I1HYW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, PA7FM, Pete's-DX-Newsdesk, PT7WA, RA3CO, RSGB IOTA Web Site, VA3RJ & ICPO, VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF), VK2IA and VU2PTT for the following DX information.

*** SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDITOR (Tedd, KB8NW): My family (wife/OPDX's chief proof-reader Linda, son Teddy [TJ] and his wife Jessi, daughter Katie and her husband Kevin), and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy New Year". Thanks to the many individuals who have provided DX information over the past year. Without them there would not be an OPDX Bulletin. Also, thanks to the individuals who sent holiday wishes to my family and me.....
73 and Have a Great/Safe/Healthy New Year de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 20th-December, through Sunday, 27th-December there were 213 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, DL, DU, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ,
F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FS, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J5, J6, J7, JA, JT, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TL, TN, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9W,
VP2E, VP2V, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZK2, ZL, ZP, ZS

* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

4Z, ISRAEL. Alex, 4Z5KJ, will be active as 4Z5J during the CQ 160m CW Contest (January 29-31st, 2010) as a Single-Op entry. QSL via W0MM.

6W, SENEGAL (Early Announcement). Al, F5VHJ, will once again be active as 6W1RY during the CQ WW DX SSB Contest (October 30-31st, 2010) as a Single- Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via F5VHJ.

C6, BAHAMAS. Operators Dimtiri/RA3CO and Yuri/RL3FT will be active as C6AWL during the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 20-21st) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via RX3RC. Dimtiri informs OPDX that he will arrive a few days before the contest and will be active on all bands CW, but prefers 30 and 17 meters.

CM2, CUBA. Frank, CM2IR, informs OPDX that he will once again be active between January 1-3rd, on 40 meters [CW around 7015 kHz and SSB around 7125 kHz], and also 15/12/10 meters SSB between 2200-0300z to bring in the New Year. Reference numbers are: CQ 8, ITU 11, IOTA NA-015 and GRID LOCATOR EL83TC. QSL via EB7DX, his QSL Manager, with 2 USDs or IRCs. Interests are: QRP CW, Europe, Islands, and Africa.

FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Phil, FO8RZ (F5PHW), continues to be active on the bands (especially topband). He has announced this past week that he will be very active on 160m during his sunrise (around 1500z; calling on 1831 kHz +/- QRM and listening on 1824 kHz +/- QRM) until December 30th.
If he does not hear anything, he will then more onto 80m, then after to 30m. QSL via F8BPN, direct, by the bureau, LotW.

HH, HAITI. Pierre, HB9AMO, is now active as HH/HB9AMO from Haiti for about one month. Activity will be limited to his spare time. He will be using a TS-50 with 100 watts into wire antennas operating CW ONLY, mainly on 30-17 meters. His QSL Manager is PA7FM: Dennis Robbemond, Loggerhof 11, 3181 NS ROZENBURG, Netherlands. An online log will be
available later, but a small Web site is up and running at:
http://www.hhhb9amo.pa7fm.nl/

HS, THAILAND. Joerg, DL1MJF, is expected to be active from here again as HS0ZGQ between December 30th and January 25th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW/SSB using a Kenwood TS-50 and a dipole antenna. Joerg will also once again stay for one week on the Island of Koh Samui (AS-101) and will operate as HS0ZGQ/2. QSL via DL1MJF.

IOTA NEWS....................
OC-211. (Update) Operators Wally/VK6YS, Nigel/VK6NI and Bruce/KD6WW plan to be active as VK6IOA from Houtman Abrolhos in the Wallabi Island Group between December 31st and January 4th, 2010. They will definitely have the three stations on simul-
taneously. Operations should be on 40-15 meters. QSL via VK4AAR. Visit their Web site at:
http://www.westozdx.net/IOTAS/OC211/OC211.html

SA-041. Members of the Araucaria DX Group and the ForDX group are planning to activate the Island of Maiau (DFB MA-01) during June of 2010. This is the same group of operators who activated PW6C from Coroa Vermelha Island and Coroa Da Barra Island.
More details are forthcoming.

KH6BZF PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (For December 28th-January 3rd)....
Dec 28 AN SOLAR REFERENCE
Dec 29 AN ---------------
Dec 30 AN AN - Above Normal/Geomagnetic Level is QUIET
Dec 31 AN HN - High Normal/Geomagnetic Level is UNSETTLED
Jan 01 AN LN - Low Normal
Jan 02 AN
Jan 03 AN GEOMAGNETIC REFERENCE
---------------------
QUIET - The "A" index is expected to be between 0-7 and the "K" index will be 2 or less
UNSETTLED - The "A" index is expected to be between 7-16 and "K" index will be 3 or less

NEED TO KNOW A GRID SQUARE? The following Web pages may be of interest for those who chase Grid Squares (Grid Locators) or for those who need to know their Grid:
Enter your address (or callsign) at:
http://www.levinecentral.com/ham/grid_square.php

Zoom in to your QTH and click on it, and it will display
your grid at: http://f6fvy.free.fr/qthLocator/fullScreen.php

NH7, HAWAII. Al, NH7A, will be active during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via F5VHJ.

OG20, FINLAND (Special Event). Anne, OH2YL, will be active using the special callsign OG20YL from Karjalohja between December 30th and Janaury 3rd (2010). Activity is to celebrate receiving her ham license 20 years ago. Operations will be on the HF bands and CW. QSL via her home callsign.

PY0F, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Fred, PY2XB, will once agin be active as PY2XB/PY0F from Fernando de Noronha (SA-03) between January 23rd and February 3rd, 2010. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. His activities will include the CQ 160M CW Contest (January 29-31st), but he will sign as PQ0F. QSL via PT7WA. See photos from his last operation at: http://www.py2yp.com/py2xb

QSL INFO AND NEWS.....................
AT1HQ ON LOTW. Prasad, VU2PTT, QSL Manager for AT1HQ, informs OPDX that "the logs for Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) HQ station in IARU Contest 2009 have just been uploaded to ARRL Logbook of The World. If anyone has made multiple QSOs with this station, the Grid Locator for each QSO may vary based on band and mode of QSO as we had stations in different parts of the country for this HQ operation. The AT1HQ station
locations were at VU2BGS, VU2PAI, VU2PTT, VU2SWS, VU2TS and VU2UR. The QSL cards, both direct and via bureau will take some more time and will be notified shortly."

QSLS VIA LoTW: None reported this week!

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3D2MJ, 3D2NB, 4U1UN, 5X1NH, 7P8MM, 8R1PY, 9M6XRO, 9N7JO, A92GE, BA4TB, BY4USA, C37URE, EA9/OL8R, EU7SA, FG5FR, FO/G3BJ, FO5RH, FT5GA, G3SWH, G3TXF, HA0HW, JT1CO, K5D, KL7RRC/P, M0URX, NI5DX, P29NI, P49Y, PJ4A, SU8LH, SV1CQN, SY2A, T8CW, T88CW, TY1MS, TO4X, TO8YY, TX5SPA, TX5SPM, TZ6JA, V26B, VK9LA, VP2MNK, VP2V/DL7VOG, VP8YCE, XV4D, YJ0CCC, ZA0/IK7JWX, ZB2FK, ZD7X and ZK2BJ

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 6M0W, 9M2GCN, DL4JS/6W, EA7HW, ER1RR, ER3DX, FK8CP, FO/N6JA, GB25FC, GW4CC, JO7CVU, MJ/F5CWU, OH1OR, OH2DZ/p, PY2OMS, RW0LT, TM6BRE, VP2ERV, VU2SWS and WI8R

R1, ANTARCTIC. Alex, UA1PAW (ex-RZ1PWA and R1ANF), now operating as R1ANR from Novo Runway in Antarctica, is expected to be there until the end of February 2010. Gianni, I1HYW, who spoke with Alex states, "He (Alex) said propagation is only open around 2000z on 40m. While 10/15/20/30m are closed. He is running a Stepp-IR all band vertical antenna using a Yaesu MARK V RTX and PA ACOM 2000A. He also said that he is worried as DX bulletins are reporting incorrect info about his QSL Manager, so this is the QSL route: QSL Manager is Nick Shapkin, RK1PWA for the Russian and Ukrainian Hams. While for the other countries his QSL Manager is ZS1ANF: Oleg S. Sakharov, P.O. Box 15968, Vlaeberg RSA, Cape Town, Western Cape 8018, SOUTH AFRICA." For more info and photos, see his blog
at: http://alex-v-shmarin.livejournal.com/

VI2, AUSTRALIA (Special Event). Look for the special callsign, VI2AJ2010, to be used by Scouts under the guidance of Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club members (VK2FFG) at Cataract Scout Park, near Sydney, during the upcoming triennial Australian Scout Jamboree (AJ2010), to take place January 4-14th, 2010. With registrations of 10,000+ Scouts and 3000 Scout Leaders, VI2AJ2010 will be active on HF, VHF and node 6111 to promote their hobby. QSL via VK2FFG (bureau/direct).

VP9,BERMUDA. Kurt, W6PH, will be active as VP9/W6PH for the 2010 ARRL DX CW Contest (February 20-21st) and ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL direct to his home callsign W6PH.

YI, IRAQ (Update). A group of operators called the "YI9PSE DXpedition team" are planning to operate from Kurdistan and be active between April 3-11th. The team will receive a ten day visa issued by the Government of Kurdistan. A band/mode survey is available on their Web site at: http://www.yi9pse.com/survey.html
Suggested frequencies are also published on their Web page and OPDX.937. The current updated YI9PSE Team consists of the following operators: Paul/N6PSE (Team Leader), Andreas/N6NU, Bob/N6OX, Bruce/W8HW, Garry/NI6T, David/AH6HY, Bill/N2WB, Al/K3VN, Jun/JH4RHF and Heathem/YI1UNH. Pilot stations are: Don/N1DG, Chuck/AA6G and Toshikazu/JA1ELY. The group is also looking for donations to help fund their DXpedition. Donations can be made via PayPal or mail a check to: Kurdistan 2010 DXpedition,
3052 Wetmore Dr., San Jose, CA 95148, USA. Online logs will be available during and after the DXpedition. QSL via N6NKT. For more details and updates, visit: http://www.yi9pse.com/

ZK3, TOKELAU (Also 5W). Look for operators Bill/N7OU and Bob/W7YAQ to operate from the Tokelau Islands (OC-048) between February 17th and March 10th, 2010. The exact dates of their operation may change because the only access to the Tokelau Islands is by boat. Their activities will include an entry in the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February 20-21st). Operations will be on 160-10 meters but mainly on CW, with some SSB and RTTY, using 100 watts and vertical antennas. Also, look for them to operate from Apia, Samoa (5W), before they sail to Tolelau and after between February 10-16th and March 11-15th. All callsigns are to be announced. QSL via their home callsigns.